{"id":24465,"date":"2021-12-16T10:14:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-16T15:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24465"},"modified":"2021-12-17T08:17:21","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T13:17:21","slug":"donaldson-to-tell-eu-time-for-talking-is-now-over-for-ni-protocol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=24465","title":{"rendered":"Donaldson To Tell EU ‘Time For Talking Is Now Over’ For NI Protocol"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The DUP leader is to meet with the European Commission vice president on Thursday (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is to tell the top EU negotiator that it is decision time in talks about the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson is set to meet European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement ahead of the meeting, Mr Donaldson said he will make it clear that his party\u2019s continued participation in the Stormont Assembly is \u201cnot sustainable in the absence of action to remove the Irish Sea border\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unionist parties in Northern Ireland have called for action over the protocol which places additional checks on goods arriving from Britain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was designed to prevent a hard border being imposed in Ireland following the UK\u2019s departure from the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UK Brexit minister Lord Frost has been engaged in talks with Mr Sefcovic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Donaldson has claimed the EU is being \u201cintransigent\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn a week in which the UK government extended free unfettered access for goods moving from the Irish Republic to Great Britain, the intransigence of the European Union must now come to an end,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have shown respect and goodwill by giving space for the current talks to succeed, but regrettably this has not been reciprocated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMr Sefcovic will be left in no doubt, that the continued participation in the political institutions is not sustainable, in the absence of action to remove the Irish Sea Border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA small window of opportunity currently exists to begin the process of restoring Northern Ireland\u2019s place within the UK\u2019s Internal Market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf the European Union wish to protect the political institutions in Northern Ireland, then they must seize this opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFailure to do so, will lead to the inevitable consequences which I outlined on September 9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is now decision time for the EU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe time for talking is now over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMatters must now be brought to a head.\u201d<\/p>\n

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